Automatic sound-recorder.



No. 727,921.. PATBNTBD MAY-12,'1903.

V. H. EMERSON& lLcAPPS.

AUTOMATIG SOUND REGolmBB..

j APPLICATION FILED 00T.14, 1902.

'N0 MODEL.

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j UNITED STATES' Patented May 1,2, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

VICTOR H. EMERSON, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, AND FRANK L. CAPPS,

OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUEASSIGNORS TO AMERICAN GRAPHO- PI-IONECOMPANY, A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

AUTOMATIC SOUND-RECORDER.'

SPECIFICATION forming para of Letters Patent No. 727,921, dated May 12, 1903- Application filed October 14,1902. Serial No. 127,298. (N 111011613 To a/ZZ whom t may concern:

Beit known that we, VICTOR H. EMERSON, ot' Newark, New Jersey, and FRANK L. CAPPS, of Bridgeport, Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Automatic Sound-Recorder, which is fully set forth in the following specification.

Our invention relates to sound-recorders for producing original engraved sound-records of the so-called zigzag type, in which operation an original record is rst made in a Hat tablet or disk of comparatively soft material, from which is obtained an electroplate matrix that is impressed into a disk of suitable plastic material. Heretofore in producing sound-records by this particular system the recorderhas commonly been held rigid (but adjustable to and from its recordingdisk) with its lower face and diaphragm parallel to the upper surface of the recordingtablet. The surface of the latter isalmost sure v to become uneven after standing awhile, so

that in the arrangement just described it has. been found necessary to pare or turn'the face of the disk toa true surface immediatelybefore making a record. This of course occupies some little time and calls for expert attention. yAnother scheme that hasbeen used to some extent involves the employment of a so-called determining device,a shoe or ru nner attached to the recorder-head and traveling upon the surface of the record-disk to prevent the needle sinking too far into the material and also serving to adjust the recorder automatically to inequalities in the surface of the tablet. In making such records the softer the material the better the reproduce a recorder that will adjust itself automatically1 to Chanceinequalities in the surface of the recording material without the employment of the shoe referred to, whereby we dispense with the preliminary paring aforesaid. By our construction we produce a recorder for this kind of work that in the Vdirections of its movement for registering a record in the material will be responsive only to jthe vibrations of Aits diaphragm though highly responsive to these, while it will yield readily in other directions'to accommodate itself to chance inequalities or irregularities.

Our invention then may be called an automatic recorder; and it consists in the construction and arrangement and combination of parts to be pointed out.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a face view,

and Fig. 2 a side view, of our automatic re- 'The Central portion of Ybridge C is cut away or elevated above the surface of the diaphragm, so as not tointerfere with the vibrations of the latter. Two lugs c c extend from bridge C toward the central portion of the diaphragm, and between these lugs is journaled the connecting device which carries therecording-stylus. 4

A convenient form of the connectin g device is illustrated in Fig. 3. The triangular or A- shaped piece D is journaled between the lugs c c, as by a pin d, extending the whole length thereof. The outer corner of piece D lies above the center of the diaphragm and is connected thereto by the wire d'. The member E, likewise A-shaped, is pivoted transversely across the larger end of memberD, as by pin e, extending therethrough, as shown. At the outer end of piece E is secured the recording tool or stylus F. The hook G from bridge C limits the outward play of member E, while a flat spring H holds member E and its stylus F normally at the extreme position away from the diaphragm.

The vibrations of the diaphragm to and fro or parallel to its axis are transmitted (through the journal d) into lateral vibrations at the end of stylus F. The extended bearings afforded by the lug c c and the pin d prevent any lateral twist or lost motion. The stylus will thus have no lateral motion except that imparted to it from the diaphragm. In case an uneven surface be presented at any portion of the recording-disk the yielding of the spring H will permit the member E (with stylus F) to ride up over such chance irregularities, the spring H at once returning the stylus, or rather retaining it in proper operative relation to the recording material. The extended bearings furnished by the larger ends of members D and E and the pin e prevent any sidewise motion of member E (and the stylus) relative to member D, so that, as already stated, the stylus F will move sidewise only in response to vibrations ofthe diaphragm. The devices D and E normally operate as an integral or unitary piece, transmitting the vibrations from Wire d to stylus F, the sound-vibrations thus transmitted not being sucient to overcome the inertia or stiffness of spring H, and the latter is called into play only by unevennesses in the surface of the tablet.

Of course our invention is not limited to the precise vconstruction of parts or the exact arrangement of parts described, which have been given for the purposes of illustration. It may also be employed in making soundrecords of other types than that particularly described.

Having thus described our invention, we Claim- 1. In a recording apparatus of the type specified the combination with the head and its diaphragm, of the bridge across the same, the connecting member secured to the center of the diaphragm and journaled upon said bridge, the second connecting member pivoted transversely upon the first-named member and carrying the stylus, and the spring normally holding the second memberaway from the diaphragm.

2. In an apparatus for engraving zigzag sound-records of uniform depth, a head carrying a diaphragm, a bridge across said diaphragm, a device journaled in said bridge and connected rigidly to said diaphragm, and a second device yieldingly pivoted to the rstnameddevice and itself carrying the recording-stylus.

3. In a sound-recording apparatus, the combination of the stylus and the member to which it is secured, a second member mounted yieldingly upon the same, and pivoted transversely thereof to a fixed support carried by the recorder-head and secured rigidly to the center of the diaphragm.

4. A sound-recorder, comprising the combination with a sound-box and its diaphragm, of a triangular member pivoted along one side to said sound-box and connected at its outer end to said diaphragm, a second member pivoted to said first-mentioned member transversely to the pivot of the former and carrying the recording-tool at its free end.

In testimony whereof we have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

VICTOR H. EMERSON. FRANK L. CAPPS.

lVitnesses:

C. A. L. MASSIF., WILLIAM E. HILLS. 

